Manu Raju

Manu Raju is the CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent, diligently covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics. Before joining CNN, Raju was a leading Capitol Hill correspondent at Politico for seven years, contributing to their substantial political coverage. His earlier experiences include reporting roles at The Hill newspaper, Congressional Quarterly, and Inside Washington Publishers. Raju's proficiency in political journalism is enhanced by his frequent appearances as a guest on numerous political talk shows on both TV and radio.

Throughout his career, Raju has received several accolades for his insightful reporting. In addition to winning the White House Correspondents Association's Merriman Smith award in 2012 for his presidential reporting under deadline pressure during the debt ceiling crisis, he was honored in 2015 with the first prize by the Society of Professional Journalists in D.C. for beat coverage of the 2014 midterm elections, and a Folio: Eddie Award for a feature profile on Senator Elizabeth Warren. His reputation for tough and effective questioning of politicians and officials makes him a respected figure in political journalism. This was notably demonstrated in 2014 when he moderated significant debates during the Colorado Senate and gubernatorial races.

Raju began his media journey at the student newspaper, The Badger Herald, while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He draws inspiration from his late grandfather, Gopalakrishna Adiga, a revered poet from South India. Beyond journalism, Raju is a dedicated Chicago sports fan, hailing from the Greater Chicago area. His interviews with prominent political figures such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senator John McCain underscore his significant impact and presence in political journalism.